The New Mosque

[Gaspar]

Wow!  I heard the talking heads this morning say this is the subject that put the final nail in President Obama's presidency.

Much of the big Hollywood money failed to show up at his fund raiser last night because of his statements.  Barbra Streisand was a no show, and several of the 30K seats were vacant.

Even Politico has gotten dirty.
Honest to goodness, the man just does not get it. He might be forced to pull a Palin and resign before his first term is over. He could go off and write his memoirs and build his presidential library. (Both would be half-size, of course.)

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41134.html#ixzz0wsBD1rZj[/i]

I wouldn't have thought this to be the tinderbox issue, but apparently it's a bomb!

[nathanm]

Oh, Politico. Is there nothing you won't say to get attention?

What a jackass. Essentially saying the President should forgo doing the right thing so he can get reelected. That attitude is a large part of what's wrong with our country.

[Townsend]

Queue Bronx cheer.

Out of all things happening in the world this is what would do it?

The only average people that are freaking out about this?  The media looking for ratings and the people outraged by the media looking for ratings.

[Gaspar]

Oh, Politico. Is there nothing you won't say to get attention?

What a jackass. Essentially saying the President should forgo doing the right thing so he can get reelected. That attitude is a large part of what's wrong with our country.

I couldn't agree with you more!

[Conan71]

Harry Reid has departed with the President on this one.  President Obama's mistake is a failure to lead on the issue. He's so afraid of pissing anyone off he's abdicating a leadership role.

This probably goes too deep into hyperbole, but I've heard this likened to having a Nazi museum outside Auschwitz or raising a Japanese flag over Pearl Harbor.

[nathanm]

Harry Reid has departed with the President on this one.  President Obama's mistake is a failure to lead on the issue. He's so afraid of pissing anyone off he's abdicating a leadership role.

This probably goes too deep into hyperbole, but I've heard this likened to having a Nazi museum outside Auschwitz or raising a Japanese flag over Pearl Harbor.

If he was afraid of pissing people off, why did he come out and say that they have the right to build it, however inadvisable that may be?

Personally, I think those analogies are complete BS, but then I don't buy into the idea that all Muslims are responsible for the actions of a few nutjobs. Comparing Islam to Imperial Japan or the Nazi party is offensive at best.

[swake]

Harry Reid has departed with the President on this one.  President Obama's mistake is a failure to lead on the issue. He's so afraid of pissing anyone off he's abdicating a leadership role.

This probably goes too deep into hyperbole, but I've heard this likened to having a Nazi museum outside Auschwitz or raising a Japanese flag over Pearl Harbor.

Heard where? See, except on the Interwebs and on cable TV I haven't heard this mentioned by anyone at all. I'm starting to think this is a complete sham of an outrage.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Godwin's Law has been breached now!  This thread must end and the person raising the subject loses the argument/discussion!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

It's the law....

[custosnox]

Godwin's Law has been breached now!  This thread must end and the person raising the subject loses the argument/discussion!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

It's the law....

I refer you to FAQs on Godwin's Law, in particular, FAQ 5

5.  What should I do if somebody else invokes Godwin's Law?

        The obvious response is to call them on it, say "thread's over",
and declare victory.  This is also one of the stupidest possible responses,
because it involves believing far too much in the power of a few rules that
don't say exactly what you wish they said anyway.  The proper response to
an invocation is probably to simply followup with a message saying "Oh.
I'm a Nazi?  Sure.  Bye" and leave, and in most cases even that much of a
post is unnecessary.

[Gaspar]

If he was afraid of pissing people off, why did he come out and say that they have the right to build it, however inadvisable that may be?

LOL!  Because he was speaking at a Muslim prayer breakfast. 

I can just imagine the load that developed in his pants when he was asked the question.

[nathanm]

LOL!  Because he was speaking at a Muslim prayer breakfast.  

Yeah, it would have been impossible for him to say "I'm not familiar with all of the details surrounding that issue so I'm not going to comment on it."  

Your post was self-contradictory. You first said he failed to lead, and then said he pissed off a bunch of people with his statement, which was an example of leading.

[sgrizzle]

heh

[Gaspar]

Yeah, it would have been impossible for him to say "I'm not familiar with all of the details surrounding that issue so I'm not going to comment on it." 

Yes, and that would be a lie.  He could have said, and echoed majority sentiment on the issue:

"I agree that you should have the right to build a Mosque anywhere that it is legal to do so, but I disagree with the choice of this location as that it will serve to strain a relationship with Islam that we are trying so hard to develop, and in many cases repair."

"On this location, rather than a symbol of beauty and tranquility, I fear your Mosque will become a target for hatred, misunderstanding and darkness."

"I ask you, the leaders of your faith to reconsider.  Your choice now will serve as an example of your commitment to building not only a place of worship but a healing bond with those affected by the 9/11 attacks."

Or he could just rattle off some other Bull$hit.  Come on.  The guy is supposed to be smart, not some simple pandering milk-toast.

[dbacks fan]

Harry Reid has departed with the President on this one.  President Obama's mistake is a failure to lead on the issue. He's so afraid of pissing anyone off he's abdicating a leadership role.

This probably goes too deep into hyperbole, but I've heard this likened to having a Nazi museum outside Auschwitz or raising a Japanese flag over Pearl Harbor.

sorry, couldn't resist.

[we vs us]

Harry Reid has departed with the President on this one.  President Obama's mistake is a failure to lead on the issue. He's so afraid of pissing anyone off he's abdicating a leadership role.

This probably goes too deep into hyperbole, but I've heard this likened to having a Nazi museum outside Auschwitz or raising a Japanese flag over Pearl Harbor.

Reid departed on this because 1) he's terminally squishy, 2) a bit slow on the uptake, and 3) has never understood message discipline in any sort of meaningful way.   The departure was idiotic because it gins up a supposed disagreement between major leadership figures and makes the D's look (yet again) like they don't have a coherent team. 

IMO, Obama actually DID lead on this, in the sense that he engaged with the idea at all and offered a substantive (if only slightly walked-back) opinion in prepared -- not impromptu -- remarks directly to the Muslim community at the Ramadan event.  It was a strong stand, and remains so.  It's Reid in this one who flubbed it so completely.

And Newt Gingrich made the Nazi/Imperial Japan comparison.